This study explored cognitive processes in elite rugby union place-kickers using a Think Aloud protocol. Five male kickers (Mage = 25.8 years) from Scotland's top domestic league wore microphones to verbalize thoughts during place-kicks from varied distances and angles. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through abductive content analysis using Elliott et al.'s framework. Findings revealed planning as the dominant cognitive theme, with participants consistently using preperformance routines incorporating visualization techniques. External attributions of failure emerged as a novel coping strategy among four of five kickers. The results demonstrate how elite performers use metacognitive strategies, informed by dynamic self-regulation, and adaptive systems principles to regulate attention and adapt to task demands. These findings provide new insights into the cognitive architecture of specialized sports skills and highlight Think Aloud's value for capturing real-time thought processes. For applied practice, the study offers concrete recommendations for developing individualized routines that optimize attentional control and performance consistency in pressure situations.

Despite the prevalence of injury and positional competition (PC) in sport, the ways in which injury influences athletes' experiences with PC has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore (a) how injury influences athletes' PC experiences and (b) how injury and PC together influence individual- and team-level outcomes. A two-phase qualitative approach was adopted situated within the Canadian interuniversity football context. In Phase 1, 12 athletes participated in semistructured interviews. The findings from these interviews were then discussed in focus group interviews with eight additional athletes (Phase 2). Data were analyzed through a critical realist lens. Three major themes were identified: (a) competing while injured-a perceived unavoidable reality of PC, (b)  player status is a key feature of athletes' injury and PC experiences, and (c) a double-edged sword-injury creates and takes away playing time opportunities. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Researchers, and the public alike, assume that sport types (e.g., team, contact, aesthetic) inherently produce certain environments. To test these assumptions, we examined how sport types relate to adolescent participants' perceptions of sport contexts. Using survey data from 841 U.S. youth in 54 sports, we adopted a novel approach to include multiple sport types when (a) describing how sport types correlate to the perceived sport context and (b) examining how variance in sport enjoyment is predicted by sport type alongside other relational and structural aspects. Results show that sport types consistently predicted structural characteristics (e.g., team sports involved increased interdependence perceptions); yet, we observed fewer differences for relational characteristics (e.g., perceptions of friends). Relational characteristics also accounted for considerable variance in sport enjoyment, not explained by sport type alone. This study shows that clearer sport type definitions and precise assessments are needed to capture contextual factors that predict sport enjoyment.

The negative effect of anxiety on performance has been explained via distraction (e.g., attentional control theory), self-focus (e.g., reinvestment theory), or an interaction of these mechanisms (e.g., interactionist hypothesis). For the first time, athletes' qualitative perception of all three mechanisms was explored. Ten amateur netball players completed an individual semistructured interview. Thematic analysis revealed three superordinate themes (distraction, self-focus, and interaction), two middle themes (sources and failure mechanisms), and a total of 10 subthemes (internal distractions, external distractions, impaired attentional control, overloaded attention, conscious motor processing, movement self-consciousness, deautomatization, distraction-induced self-focus, self-focus-induced distraction, and overload from simultaneous self-focus and distraction). Results suggest athletes notice instances of self-focus, distraction, and interactionist mechanisms. Interestingly, distraction and self-focus appeared to manifest a bidirectional relationship, whereby self-focus can be distracting and distraction can induce self-focus. This novel finding offers progress toward integrated rather than mutually exclusive conceptualizations of anxiety-performance mechanisms.

To chart the neurotemporal dynamics of corrective failure, we recorded electroencephalography from 30 elite basketball players as they performed a passing decision task. In a within-subjects design, a heuristic cue (a recommended pass) either Conflicted with the optimal action derived from video stimuli (Conflict condition) or aligned with it (Nonconflict condition). Behaviorally, the Conflict manipulation incurred significant costs: accuracy was lower in the Conflict condition, and when players succumbed to the bias, they exhibited longer response times and lower confidence compared to correct Nonconflict decisions. Neurally, we charted a progressive breakdown of corrective control. A preresponse P2-P3b-N500 cascade, reflecting effort, but insufficient corrective attempt, was followed by a postresponse error-related negativity signaling the detection of the failure. This provides the first electrophysiological evidence that such failures are not instantaneous but are a dynamic, sequential process. Our findings advance decision-making theory from static system descriptions to a dynamic, process-level understanding.

Physical activity levels decline as children transition into adolescence. Preventing this trend may contribute to beneficial physical activity patterns later in life. Examining children's and parents' beliefs and behaviors can provide insight for designing (family-based) physical activity interventions. Groups of inactive parent-child dyads (N = 48) were interviewed about their dyadic and individual experiences of physical activity; salient psychological, social, and environmental factors; and ideas about how to improve their physical activity participation. The interviews were analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. Enjoyment was a key motivator of participant physical activity and required physical activity was also enjoyable. Lack of time, lack of self-control, and screen time were identified as barriers, and participants noted a loss of coactivity. The findings suggest avenues and preferences for future interventions, including fostering autonomous motivation, supporting the internalization of controlled forms of motivation, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and developing action control skills.

Tracing gestures are hand movements designed to mimic or simulate specific actions. This study examined the effects of incorporating these gestures with mental imagery (dynamic imagery) versus using mental imagery alone (static imagery) on learning tactical movements in basketball. In addition, it investigated how the effectiveness of these techniques varies with players' levels of expertise (expert vs. novice) and the timing of testing (immediate vs. delayed). The findings indicated that novices practicing dynamic mental imagery consistently outperformed those using only static imagery in both immediate and delayed tests. In contrast, although experts showed comparable benefits from both techniques in the immediate test, dynamic imagery proved significantly more beneficial in the delayed test. These results emphasize the important role that the combination of mental imagery and tracing gestures plays in enhancing learning performance, with the effects varying based on testing time and expertise level.

Overemphasis on performance in high-level sport can lead to declines in athletes' physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Development of adaptive coping approaches, such as self-compassion, may help mitigate such threats to well-being. Informed by a narrative approach, this study explored how athletes high in self-compassion story their journey through sport, including their experiences of navigating pressure and struggle. Three women athletes high in self-compassion took part in two loosely structured one-on-one interviews. Narrative thematic and structural analyses were undertaken. Participants' narratives of Redefining, Rediscovery, Balance, Growth, and Transformation deviate from the performance narrative typically dominant within sport, and such alternative narratives may help future athletes story their lives in ways that promote well-being. Additional findings regarding athlete-generated language for self-compassion and its application further support efforts to tailor self-compassion within sport contexts.

Verbal communication among expert and nonexpert esport team players during active gameplay of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was observed and analyzed. By analyzing 4,040 in-game statements comprising 22,490 words (15,727 made by experts and 6,763 by nonexperts) across eight matches, we examined communication characteristics, such as content, frequency, pace, and distribution. Expert teams communicated more frequently and effectively than nonexpert teams, using predominantly factual and action-related statements while maintaining a significantly faster communication pace. Moreover, expert teams demonstrated a more balanced distribution of speakers, indicating shared responsibility among team players. A sequential analysis revealed that expert teams' players strategically transitioned between uncertainty-to-acknowledgement statements, and frequently transitioned between factual-to-factual and action-to-action statements. In contrast, nonexpert teams' players transitioned more between nontask-related statements and statements expressing emotions. These findings underscore the importance of efficient, task-relevant communication during active gameplay in fostering team shared mental models, rapid decision making, and effective team performance.

In sports, creativity refers to the ability to make decisions that are original and unexpected, yet effective. Given the limited research on climbers' creativity and its underlying mechanisms, this study explored the role of climbing level and route previewing on climbers' creativity and their ability to find creative climbing solutions. Twenty-eight climbers (14 advanced and 14 elite) were tasked with climbing an Olympic boulder that offered two climbing options: an easily identifiable option beyond their climbing levels, and a creative option that, though less identifiable, was feasible for both groups. Results revealed that elite climbers were more successful in completing the boulder, attained higher creativity scores, and more often used the creative option. Despite shorter preview durations, they had fewer holds without fixations and more fixations at key holds of the creative option. Overall, findings indicate that creativity in climbing is associated with skill level and behavior during route previewing.

This multistudy report tests threat states as central to team performance crises. In a preregistered online study (Study 1), N = 396 athletes answered a questionnaire after reading a vignette to manipulate expectations, attribution, and consequences. In a preregistered field study (Study 2), those factors were tested on N = 161 athletes on competition days. In both studies, expectations, attribution, and consequences were unrelated to threat, but participants with uncontrollable vignettes rated their upcoming match to be less controllable, t(375) = 1.98, p < .05. Study 1 replicated the findings of appraisal literature, linking challenge and threat to emotions, collective efficacy, and task-related cohesion. Study 2 shows the losing streaks of the three are associated with higher threat states, (β = 0.31, p < .05); but two-game losing streaks are not, β = 0.10, p = .277. The studies are discussed in the light of existing literature on crises and threat states.

This study tested direct and indirect associations between body-related self-conscious emotions (authentic pride, hubristic pride, shame, guilt), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and flourishing. Sex was tested as a moderator. Participants (N = 523; Mage = 35.9 years, 55.4% male) completed self-report surveys. Moderated mediation models were performed separately for each emotion. There were significant direct effects of each emotion and MVPA with flourishing, and the effects for authentic and hubristic pride were significant only for males. The indirect associations were also significant, such that lower guilt and higher authentic and hubristic pride along with higher MVPA were related to higher flourishing for males and females. The indirect effect of shame, MVPA, and flourishing was only significant for females. The findings suggest sex differences in the importance of body-related emotions, MVPA, and flourishing that may require unique theoretical and practical considerations to understand how body image may thwart or promote flourishing for males and females.

In most sports, more male than female officials are recruited and retained. The limited research focusing on female sport officials suggests that their experiences are frequently negative. Further understanding of female sport officials' experiences is imperative for learning more about their intentions to begin and continue as officials. The purpose of this study was to explore the positive and negative experiences of female officials who operated in sports where the officials were primarily male. Nine sport officials participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify and code common themes within the data, many of which aligned with the principles of self-determination theory. The main themes discussed herein are (a) the female experience, (b) facilitators, and (c) barriers. Recommendations are provided, which might contribute to future policy changes that lead to increased recruitment and retention of female officials.

Perfectionism has been linked to doping in sport. However, research to date has focused on trait perfectionism and has neglected other possibly relevant aspects of perfectionism. One such aspect is perfectionistic self-presentation-the interpersonal expression of perfectionism. Therefore, the aim of the present research note was to provide a first exploratory examination of whether perfectionistic self-presentation is related to doping in sport. To do so, we recruited two samples of athletes (total N = 362) who responded to measures of perfectionistic self-presentation (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection), positive attitudes toward doping (Sample 1), and doping willingness (Sample 2). Results of bivariate correlational analyses showed that nondisclosure of imperfection was positively correlated with positive attitudes toward doping, and perfectionistic self-promotion and nondisplay of imperfection were positively correlated with doping willingness. When controlling for the overlap between perfectionistic self-presentation dimensions, in regression analyses, only nondisclosure of imperfection emerged as a positive predictor of positive attitudes toward doping (Sample 1). The findings provide tentative evidence that perfectionistic self-presentation may be associated with doping, at least at the bivariate level, and, in doing so, highlights the need for future doping research to consider other aspects of perfectionism.

The purpose of this study was to describe and interpret staff members of after-school sport-based positive youth development programs perceptions' of how they foster social connections with youth exposed to risk factors. Participants included 10 staff members (eight women and two men) who work within after-school, sport-based positive youth development programs. Data were generated via one-on-one semistructured interviews conducted either in-person or via Zoom. A four-step process of data analysis was used to identify five themes that represent the findings of this interpretative phenomenological analysis: (1) getting to know, investing, and showing intention toward youth; (2) fostering positive spaces and relationships; (3) allowing for autonomy and leadership; (4) practicing what you preach; and (5) power dynamics and approaching with caution. Findings highlight critical considerations for fostering social connections with youth exposed to risk factors that may improve the experiences of both youth and staff members in sport-focused positive youth development programs.

Socially supportive relationships in physical activity (PA) can assist in coping with cancer-related distress and contribute to PA. While perceptions that social support (SS) is available are associated with well-being and PA, less is known about what behaviors contribute to perceptions of being supported, which is important for developing strategies to facilitate SS. We examined participants' experiences with SS behaviors in group exercise oncology programs. Twelve interviews and three focus groups were conducted with 24 people living with cancer to explore experiences with SS related to PA programs. Using reflexive thematic analysis, SS behaviors were identified in five themes: developing caring relationships; a safe haven of care, connection, and understanding; nurturing a desire for seizing opportunities; facilitating preparation for engagement in opportunities; and helping to fully engage in opportunities. SS helped participants cope with cancer, learn new skills and improve their exercise abilities, and form supportive connections with others.

High-performance coaches, much like the athletes they work with, are performers who face significant stressors that challenge their mental health. This study explores mindfulness and self-compassion as potential resources to support coaches in managing these demands. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, qualitative discussions with six high-performance coaches revealed contextual demands and varied perceptions of these resources. Quantitative analysis of survey responses from 78 high-performance coaches demonstrated that self-compassion uniquely predicted mental ill-health (i.e., burnout) beyond mindfulness (Δ R2 = .10, p < .001), while mindfulness uniquely predicted mental well-being (i.e., thriving) beyond self-compassion (Δ R2 = .09, p = .003). These findings suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion may play complementary roles in supporting both positive and negative aspects of mental health. This research highlights the potential value of incorporating these resources into mental health programs for high-performance coaches and encourages further exploration of their application in elite sport settings.

The precise nature of the leadership-sport performance relationship remains unclear. Furthermore, understanding of how leadership effects might differ across coach and athlete leaders or across team and individual performance is currently limited. To address these issues, we conducted an integrated systematic and meta-analytical review (50 studies, 17,158 athletes) to quantify differences between coach and athlete leaders and examine potential moderator variables. Results revealed a significant yet small positive relationship between leadership and performance (r = .21; Hedges' g = 0.44). Significantly stronger relationships emerged for team captains (r = .34) with team performance than coaches (r = .18) and informal athlete leaders (r = .15). Moreover, significantly larger effect sizes were yielded for authentic (r = .44) and transformational (r = .33) compared with social identity leadership (r = .19). In summary, both coaches and athletes possess the potential to be effective leaders who influence both team and individual performance.

Tai Chi, a mindfulness-based aerobic exercise, may alleviate depressive symptoms and improve physiological markers in older adults. However, its distinct effects compared with general aerobic exercise remain unclear. To compare the effects of Tai Chi and general aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms and serum lipid levels in community-dwelling older adults with mild to moderate depression, a randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to Tai Chi (n = 120) or general aerobic exercise (n = 120) for 3 months. Depressive symptoms and serum lipid levels were measured at baseline and postintervention. A generalized estimating equation was used to assess group differences over time. The Tai Chi group exhibited significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in serum lipid profiles compared with the general aerobic exercise group. Tai Chi's mind-body synergy may enhance its antidepressant effects, offering a promising approach to mental health and healthy aging.

Many adolescent girls fail to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, with research often overlooking daily influences of social support and built environments on PA. To address this, we employed ecological momentary assessment methods within a social ecological model framework. Girls (n = 66; 12-18 years) reported their social support for PA, built environment perceptions, and time spent in PA over 28 days. Multilevel models indicated that, at the between-person level, girls with higher overall social support tended to engage in more PA (B = 1.50, p < .01). At the within-person level, girls who received more social support than usual (B = 1.37, p < .01), and perceived their environment as more PA conducive than usual (B = 0.75, p < .01), engaged in more PA on those days. No association was found between built environment perceptions and PA, nor did social support interact with these perceptions (p = .33). Our findings emphasize the importance of promoting social support in adolescent girls.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and interpret evidence-based scores of validity and reliability of the Pictorial Movement Skill Competence according to the procedure of assessment (i.e., one-on-one interview and supervised-guided group administration) in a cohort of children. A sample of 635 children (49.1% girls, 8.0-10.9 years old) participated. Confirmatory factor analyses and Rasch models were conducted to examine evidence of different forms of validity and reliability. In the current sample, each Confirmatory factor analyses three-factor Pictorial Movement Skill Competence model (locomotion, object control, and stability skills) was an adequate fit. There was good-to-excellent agreement between both types of administration and higher internal consistency for the group administration. Both methods of administration are appropriate to assess perceived motor competence with the group method showing better reliability in this sample. Supervised group administration is more efficient than the one-on-one interview and could be considered in future assessments with children older than 8-years-old.

Body-related self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment), which are particularly salient in sport, are foundational to adolescents' attention and performance. Adolescents' (N = 72) self-conscious emotions and attention were examined using self-reported single-item measures across 4 days. After completing these measures, adolescents' reaction time was measured using a hand laterality judgment task. Data were analyzed using multilevel regression models. Controlling for age and gender, attention, and reaction times were regressed on body-related self-conscious emotions in separate multilevel models. Results indicate that, on the days that adolescents experience higher levels of body-related shame, envy, and embarrassment, they had more difficulty blocking out distracting thoughts. Further, higher levels of body-related embarrassment related to longer reaction times. This study is consistent with previous research indicating that body image may significantly impact motor performance. In addition to adolescents' performance, these results may have implications for adolescents' participation and enjoyment of sport experiences.

The collective collapse of a sport team is typically accompanied by unpleasant emotions and their transfer between team members. Strategies to regulate these emotions may determine whether a team collapse unfolds in a team. Applying a pragmatist interpretivist paradigm, we explored emotion regulation strategies applied by sport teams in team collapse versus performance recovery situations and used video recordings of both situations to stimulate focus group interviews and conduct written observations. Twenty-two athletes of four sport teams (cricket, volleyball, and European handball) and three observers from the same sports participated. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the data. Results showed that applied emotion regulation strategies differed between team collapse and performance recovery situations with fewer and less effective strategies used in team collapse situations. This may be due to an emotional shutdown and/or the avoidance of emotion regulation. Future research developing and testing prevention and intervention strategies is needed.

The relationship between muscle strength and cognition is widely studied in older adults; however, understanding this association at younger ages may help detect markers of early cognitive changes and inform future interventions. Accordingly, we aimed to identify relationships between handgrip, whole-body, upper body, and lower body strength and cognitive functions. A total of 112 adults (aged 18-50 years) completed comprehensive measures of muscle strength, aerobic capacity, body composition, and cognitive function. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that individuals with stronger handgrip had better mental rotation performance (standardized β = 0.39); those with greater upper body strength had superior recognition (standardized β = 0.52) and pattern separation abilities (standardized β = 0.39), but whole- and lower body strength were not associated. Results demonstrate the unique relationship between upper body strength and aspects of cognitive function, in addition to differential associations of upper body and handgrip strength with encoding, retrieval, and spatial skills. The current findings establish an association between strength and cognitive function earlier than previously thought.

The study provides a qualitative exploration of how soccer players reporting perfectionism navigate challenges in talent pathways. Eighteen players (10 females, eight males, Mage = 16.17 years, SD = 3.47) from talent pathways with higher levels of perfectionism and perfectionistic cognitions (1SD above the mean of samples from previous studies) participated in semistructured one-to-one interviews. Using semantic thematic analysis, seven themes were identified: cycles of anxiety, sadness at being a substitute, self-criticism and hopelessness during slumps, ruminating on mistakes, worthless when injured, shame in success and intolerance of defeat, and psychological distress. Participants experienced heightened anxiety, especially when substituted, and responded to poor performance, mistakes, and injuries with self-criticism and unhelpful emotions. Postmatch, they ruminated over both success and defeat, with some reporting extreme psychological difficulties. The findings highlight how aspiring soccer players perceived perfectionism as a barrier to overcoming challenges, hindering both their performance and well-being.

As mental health issues are prevalent among athletes, research is warranted to examine athletes' help-seeking for mental health concerns. This study examined the relationship between social norms and college athletes' mental health help-seeking intentions. Analysis of cross-sectional survey data from 290 college athletes in the United States and Canada revealed that after accounting for key control variables, descriptive norms from parents (i.e., perceptions that parents would seek help) were positively associated with athletes' help-seeking intentions. Descriptive norms from coaches, teammates, and friends were not associated with help-seeking intentions. Relationships between descriptive norms and help-seeking intentions were not moderated by social identity or injunctive norms. The findings suggest that descriptive norms may have a small, but meaningful relationship with intentions to seek help for mental health concerns, depending on the person from whom the social norms originate.